The BMW M5 Touring is set to make a comeback in 2024 after a hiatus since 2010. The upcoming model was spotted undergoing testing on the Nürburgring and is expected to be launched alongside the new M5 saloon. It will be equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of BMW’s S63 twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine and a rear-mounted electric motor.

Sources suggest that the combined power and torque outputs of the two units will be around 790bhp and 737lb ft, respectively. The recent spy shots of the car reveal a heavily camouflaged prototype with a wider front grille, a low and sporty stance, a muscular rear apron, and the signature M5 quad exhaust exits.

In addition to testing on the Nürburgring, the BMW M5 Touring is being put through its paces on urban roads, country lanes, and motorways around Munich, as well as at the BMW M headquarters in Garching.

Early prototypes of the new M5 were reportedly using a lithium-ion battery similar in capacity to the one found in the outgoing BMW 545e. It remains to be seen whether this will be the production battery for the next M5, as there are suggestions that BMW M is developing its own high-performance battery with ultra-rapid discharging capabilities. The larger 19.4kWh battery found in the upcoming 530e and 550e PHEVs also hints at the possibility of a more capacious battery for the M5.

“We’re now also installing a hybrid drive system with typical M performance in other high-performance cars,” revealed Dirk Häcker, the head of BMW M development.